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Definition 2024

mess_up

mess up

See also: mess-up

English

Verb

mess up ‎(third-person singular simple present messes up, present participle messing up, simple past and past participle messed up)

(transitive) To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss.
The afternoon breeze messed up my hair.
(transitive) To cause a problem with; to introduce an error or mistake in; to make muddled or confused; spoil; ruin.
The change messed something up, and it's not working anymore.
(transitive) To botch, bungle; to perform poorly on.
Well, I messed up my solo, but otherwise it was a good concert.
(intransitive) To make a mistake; to do something incorrectly; to perform poorly.

He has a hard time getting started because he's afraid he'll mess up.

She messed up on her final exam.
(transitive) To cause (another person) to make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
Stop bumping me! You keep messing me up!
(transitive) To damage; injure.
He messed up his elbow at the track meet.
(transitive, slang) To manhandle; beat up; rough up.
Her brother's friends messed him up a little after he cheated on her.
(transitive, slang) To discombobulate, utterly confuse, or confound psychologically; to throw into a state of mental disarray.
That girl totally messed me up, man. I'm not sure who I am anymore.

Synonyms

(make a physical mess of): **** up (vulgar), gum (verb: "gum up")
(cause an error or problem in): **** up, jack up, **** up
(botch, bungle): gum (verb: "gum up"), foul up, **** up, **** up
(intransitive: make a mistake, perform poorly): **** up, **** up; see also Wikisaurus:make a mistake
(cause (another) to make mistakes): **** up
(damage, injure): **** up, jack up, **** up
(manhandle, rough up): **** up
(discombobulate, throw into mental disarray): **** up